I am a fan of the month of October or as I call it the ‘Season of Halloween’. The colors of black and orange or black and purple are my favorite to wear this time of year. Shirts with a skull, skeleton, black cat or witch are what I like to don. It is during this time of year I purchase a bag of candy corn and eat twenty pieces in memory of my grandmother Hazel and my Aunt Julia. There is a story behind this of course but perhaps will save that for another time. Last year I found a candy item I had forgotten about that I use to get in my trick-or-treat bag; peanut butter kisses wrapped in black and orange wax type paper. They are sort of like the candy called Mary Janes which have a peanut butter center around a honey type coating. I purchased a bag of those kisses last Halloween and passed them out with mini-candy bars at the American Legion and VFW parties. A few people told me they had not seen the kisses in years.
This year I have my give-away candy ready for trips to the VFW, Legion and Amvets. I do what is called reverse trick-or-treating by going to places to pass out treats. Adults enjoy getting a little something not just the children.
Halloween is not just a holiday for the kids anymore it seems. I will dress up early that morning, since it is on a Saturday. Patiently I will wait for someone to ring my doorbell; I enjoy seeing the different costumes on not only humans but our four legged friends. Now I wonder, do I have a milk bone or two on hand?
Halloween brings the time of year I enjoy to read more paranormal type stories and write my own poems on the holiday. A few years ago I penned the ‘flash fiction’ story listed below. I dedicated to a friend I knew where I lived up north as she, like me, is truly a Halloween person.
Until next time, which will be in a day or two….enjoy the story.
PERKING UP THE SPIRITS
©Scottie-ann Murphy
Swoosh. Under a starry moonlit sky, Clarisse rushed off like a gust of wind; a perfect autumn night clear, crisp and a tad on the chilly side. She had donned her cloak to keep warm. On her way to meet with friends for a night of fun, drinks and dancing the night away, Clarisse could hardly wait to arrive at the club. After her hectic week at work, she needed to unwind and regenerate her troubled soul.
Although being the youngest in her circle of friends, Clarisse appeared older at times. She dressed in vintage and retro-styled attire and preferred to drive a stick instead of an automatic.
As she drove on she could not help noticing how the full moon had cast eerie shadows on the ground. The month, after all, being October when all things strange and bizarre occurred. Clarisse enjoyed this month; not only because her birthday came in October, but because her favorite holiday celebrated….Halloween. Clarisse enjoyed watching horror movies, going to haunted houses, taking spooky hay rides and walking through corn mazes. She considered some of the holiday entertainment lame but she kept her opinions to herself.
Clarisse thought about what could possibly transpire that evening at her favorite haunt The Frank-n-Stein Dive.
She wondered if she would meet anyone of interest to hold tight when she danced. Would Mr. Right be waiting or just Mr. Right Now? The only current male in her life the past few months was Toby, her black feline. As she continued her journey, she salivated as she pictured holding a goblet of Hag O’Brew in her hand. The blood red colored drink made with cranberries, raspberries, cherries and other ingredients would hit the spot and perk her spirits.
Approaching Crow Street, Clarisse noticed only a few parking places left in front of the club. She zoomed in for a landing at the curb, jumped off her broom then placed it against the parking meter. Circling her right index finger three times clockwise and chanting an incantation, the broom entwined with the meter. Only she could break the spell to retrieve her ride when the evening ended. Another chant and one counter clockwise circle of the finger, produced five hours of meter time.
Clarisse walked to the door of the building, the greeter said hello as he held open the door. She noticed his pearly whites gleaming in the darkened night. Once inside, she made her way down the hall to the coat check area, handed her wrap to the attendant and waited for her claim ticket. Clarisse stood mesmerized by the ruby eyes embedded in the silver skull that hung on the velvet ribbon around the attendant’s neck. She made a mental note to inquire where the woman purchased such an intriguing piece of jewelry.
Clarisse took the claim check from the young woman put it in her black velvet bag and walked through the dimly lit corridor to the night club area. Music from the band penetrated her ears. The quintet for the evening, The Bat Viper Five, was playing their new song, “Just a Nibble on the Wrist.” Clarisse hoped they would play that slow haunting melody again during the evening when she had a willing dance partner. She stood at the main room entrance and looked around for her friends. She spotted Darcella and Magalene at a table near the back. Two monstrous brutes sat with them. Darcella waved once she saw Clarisse maneuvering to the rear of the room through a maze of tables
“Hello” a deep voice said behind Clarisse. She stopped dead in her tracks. The man bent down seductively whispering in her ear, “Will you save the last dance for me?”
Clarisse could feel the man’s hot breath on her neck. She felt as if she were on fire. She turned to face him. Staring up in the dark blue eyes of the handsome man, she did not answer his question, but gave him an alluring smile. Doing an about face she continued heading toward her friends.
She took five steps stopped abruptly and turned around. The man had moved on to his next victim. Clarisse chuckled to herself and wonder how many unwilling suspects that evening Count Vronski would try to pick up using that cheesy line.
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